Lightning Favored to Complete Stanley Cup Sweep

The Montreal Canadiens haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1993, but they’re one loss away from falling victim to the end of another long streak as they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning to Bell Centre on Monday for Game 4 of the final. The Lightning (51-20-6 SU, 35-37-5 O/U) can complete the first Stanley Cup sweep since 1998 with a win over Montreal (36-28-12 SU, 30-39-7 O/U). 

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

This line opened at Lightning -150 but has since risen to -160 in most spots (with the odd -155 also available). The total kicked off at O5 -105, but that number now sits at -130 with the U5 installed at +110.

Tampa Bay News & Notes

Since we saw four straight Stanley Cup Final sweeps in the mid- to late 1990s, no championship series has gone fewer than five games. The Lightning are primed to change that and are in great position to do so: They have completely dominated the 2021 final so far, outscoring the Canadiens by a combined 14-5 margin and having yet to trail at any point in the series.

The only question heading into Game 4, aside from whether Montreal can send this one back to Tampa Bay for a fifth game, is which Lightning player will win the Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup MVP. And while Brayden Point’s league-leading 14 goals are certainly impressive, it’s hard to pick anyone but Nikita Kucherov, who has nine more playoff points than anyone else.

Montreal News & Notes

The Canadiens might be facing an insurmountable deficit, but they won’t go down without a fight – and that means shaking things up heading into the first of four potential elimination games. Tomas Tatar, who has appeared in just five postseason games as he battles an undisclosed injury, might be ready to return for Game 4; he had 30 points in 50 regular-season games.

Still, the task is a tall one for the Canadiens, who haven’t done much of anything in 5-on-5 situations and have had just six power-play chances through the first three games, scoring once. Only nine players have recorded a point in the series, with Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson and Eric Staal among the notable forwards still looking to hit the scoresheet for the first time.

Betting Pick: Lightning (-160)

We could see the same kind of rebound effort that Montreal put together in Round 1 against Toronto – but would it even matter? The way Tampa Bay is playing, we think not.